Liquid mixing device



Jfily 16, 1940. c. SAYLES 2,207,761 I LIQUID MIXING DEVICE f Filed Nov. 8,1958

Patented July 16 PATENT OFFICE 2,207,761. .Lmum MIXING DEVICE Charles I. Sayles, Ithaca, N. Y., assignor to Vera David, New York, N. Y.

Application November 8, 1938, Serial No. 239,484.

7 Claims.

I This invention relates to liquid mixing devices and more especially to a device for adding a reagent such, for example, as chlorine solution in predetermined ratio to a flowing stream liquid such, for example, as water. a

An object of this invention is a liquid feeding device of the character referred to which is of extremely simple construction, inexpensivev to manufacture,'has no moving parts and in which the feeding of the reagent is .visible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention,

there is provided a chamber open at'its bottom,

together .with means for confining a body of liquid around said chamber up to a predetermined height above the bottom of the chamber, means for supplying liquid such, for example, as, water to said confining means at a constant rate, and means to withdraw liquid from said confining means at a constant rate greater than said supply rate. The last-named means communicates with the stream of liquid such, for example, as water to which reagent is to be added. Means also are provided for supplying reagent to said chamber at a constant pressure not greater than the liquid pressure at the bottom of said chamber when the liquid in said confining means is at said predetermined height. At such time as liquid is not being withdrawn from said confining means, air pressure in said chamber balances or exceeds the supply pressure of the reagent so that there is no flow of reagent to said chamber. However,

upon withdrawal of liquid from said confining means, the air pressure in said chamber decreases below the'supply pressure of the reagent so that 36 reagent flows into said chamber and from-said chamber into the stream of water to be treated.

Upon cessation of withdrawal, the original liquid depth is restored, thereupon preventing further flowing of reagent to said chamber.

As will be apparent from the above description, the device is simple in-structure, inexpensive A to manufacture and has no moving parts. Furthermore, it is applicable to all the sizes of in-. stallations, is easily-manipulated, has no complicated connections and has no parts under ex: cessive pressure requiring tight Joints. In addition, it is easily adapted to an rate of water flow, is nonclogging and easily cleaned and. also the feeding of the reagent may be made visible by constructing such device in part of glass or; other similar transparent material.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following-specification and accompanying drawfiliing,wherein:'

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of connecting the device to the water system of a building.

The hollow base member preferably is cylindrical and is formed of any suitable material such,.for example, as ceramic material. Within the base member is provided a small platform II having'a'recess in which is received the bottom rim of a vertical tube I2, there being a liquid tight seal'between the bottom of the tube and the platform. A pipe I3 passes through the vertical wall of the base member I 0 and has its inner end turned downwardly into the tubular member I2. A passageway I4 in the platform II leads from the bottom of the tank or confining means formed by the tubular member I2 and communicates with a pipe I5. I

An air-tight reservoir I6 composed of suitable material such, for example, 'as ceramic material or glass rests on the upper edge of the base member II]. A tubular member H has its upper end fitting into a groove in the bottom of the reservoir I6, there. being a fluidtight connection between the tubular member and the reservoir and said tubular member Il-projects downwardly into the tubular member I2 which is slightly larger indiameter than the tubular member Il. In the bottom of the reservoir I6 is provided a passageway I8 with which communicates a conduit I9 extendinginto the chamber formed by the tubular member II, .the conduit I9 having a return bend. A valve 2|! is provided for controlling flow of reagent through the passageway I8. Atube 2] extends through the top of the reservoir. It to a predetermined distance above theexposed end of the conduit I '9 and at its upper end is open to atmosphere.

A pipe 22 leads from the bottom of the bottom member I0 and in the vertical wall of the bottom member I0 is provided a transparent window 23 through which the interior of the member I0 may I0 of the device be viewedy 'Also, in the vertical wallv of the botthe reservoir ls through the conduit IS with the result that under such circumstances, fiow is prevented. However, upon decrease of liquid level in the tubular member l2, the air pressure within the tubular member I! drops sufiiciently to permit the fiow of reagent through the conduit l9 into the tubular member [1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pipe l5 communicates with the inlet for the pump 25 by which water is pumped from a suitable supply such, for example, as a lake or well through the pipe 26 to the water system of" a building. The pipe I3 previously mentioned leads from the pipe 26 and is provided with a valve 21 by means of which the rate of flow through the pipe l3 may be contrmled.

-When the pump 25 is at rest. the confining means I2 is filled to overflowing )y water supplied thereto through the pipe I3, the overfiow fiowing out through the pipe 22 and being carried away by any suitable arrangement. The air pressure in the chamber defined by the tubular member I! is sufiiciently high to prevent the fiow of reagent through the conduit l9. When the pump starts operating, liquid is withdrawn from the confining means l2 through the pipe I5 at a greater rate than water is supplied thereto through the pipe l3. As a result, the liquid is completely withdrawn from the confining means, 1

thus reducing the back pressure and permitting the fiow of reagent through the conduit l9 at a rate determined by the setting of the valve 20. The reagent, mixed with the water supplied through the pipe I3, is carried by the pipe l5 into the stream of water drawn by the'pump 25 and supplied to the water system. Upon cessation of operation of the pump 25, the confining means I2 is again filled with water to overflowing, thereupon stopping the fiow of reagent through the conduit I9. The return bend at the end of the tube l9 insures the application of pressure within the tubular member I! to the reagent contained in the tank l6 for the purpose of stopping the fiow of the reagent. Unless the tube l9 were provided with such return bend, the surface tension of the liquid would be inadequate to transmit the pressure to the liquid in the tank l6 and instead bubbles or air enclosed in the chamber I! would rise through the tube l9, pass through the valve l8 and flow through the liquid in the tank l6 while liquid reagent would continue to fiow through the tube I9 as the air bubbled back therethrough.

The apparatus herein disclosed has the advantage of simplicity of structure, low manufacturing cost and absence of moving parts. Also, the various parts may be composed of any suitable material and where the parts are composed of glass or other transparent material, the feed of reagent is clearly visible. Furthermore, where the bottom member is made of opaque material, the window 23 permits visible observation of the feed of the reagent.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above described, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is further to be understood that the apparatus above described is suitable for use in mixing any two liquids and that chlorine solutions in water have been cited herein merely as examples of such liquids.

I claim:

1. A device of the character dascribed comprising a chamber open at its bottom, means to confine a body of liquid around said chamber up to a predetermined height above the bottom of said chamber, means to supply liquid continuously to said confining means exterior of said chamber at a constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said confining means at a rate greater than said supply rate, and means to supply treating liquid by gravity to said chamber at a constant pressure not greater than the liquid pressure at the bottom of said chamber when the body of liquid surrounding said chamberis a said predetermined height.

2. A device of the character described com-- prising an open top tank, a hollow member arranged in said tank with its lower end open. means for supplying liquid to said tank exterio of said hollow member at constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said tank at a constant rate greater than said supply rate, and means to supply treating liquid by gravity to the upper part of said hollow member at a constant pressure not greater than the liquid pressure at the bottom of said hollow member when said tank is full of liquid.

3. A device of the character described comprising'a first chamber open at its bottom, a second chamber open at its top and. enclosing said first chamber, means for supplying liquid continuously to said second chamber exterior of said first chamber at constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said second chamber at a rate greater than said supply rate, and means to supply treating liquid by gravity to the upper part of said first chamber at a constant head not greater than the difierence in head between the bottom of said first chamber and the top of said second chamber.

4. A device of the character described comprising a first chamber open at its bottom, a pipe extending into said first chamber and having its end portion extending upwardly, a second chamber open at its top and enclosing said first chamber, means to supply liquid continuously to said second'chainber exterior of said first chamberat constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said second chamber at a rate greater I ber, means to supply liquid continuously to saidsecond chamber exterior of said first chamber at constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said second chamber at a rate greater than said supply rate, a closed liquid reagent tank at a higher elevation than the top of said first chamber communicating with said pipe, and another pipe extending downwardly into said tank, the lower end of said last-named pipe being at an elevation above the end of said second pipe in said first chamber a distance not greater than the elevation of the top of said second chamber above the bottom of said first chamber and the upper'end of said pipe extending through the wall of said tank into communication with atmosphere above the top wall of said tank.

6. A device of the character described comprising a first chamber open at its bottom, a second 'chamber open at its top and enclosing said first said first chamber, a conduit leading from, said reagent tank into the top of said first chamber, and a pipe extending downwardly into said tank, the lower end of said pipe being at an elevation above the end of said conduit in said first chamber a distance not greater than the elevation of the top of said second chamber above the bottom of said first chamber and the upper end of said pipe extending through the wall of said tank into communication with atmosphere abovethe top wall of said tank.

7. A device of the character described comprising a first tubular member open at its bottom and closed at its top, a second tubular member open at its top and closed at its bottom afid surrounding said first tubular member, means to supply liquid continuously to said second tubular member at constant rate, means to withdraw liquid from the bottom of said second tubular member at a rate greater than said supply rate, a closed liquid reagent tank, a conduit leading from said tank vand projecting into said first tubular member, and 'a pipe extending downwardly into said tank, the lower end of said last -named pipe being at an elevation above the end of said conduit in said first tubular member a distance not greater than the elevation of the top rim of said second tubular member above the bottom rim of said first tubular member and the upper end of said pipe extending through the wall of said tank into communication with atmosphere above the top wall of said tank;

CHARLES I. SAYLES. 

